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N0. 622,|06. Patented Mar. 28, I899. R. C. BERRY.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application filed. Dec. 13, 1897.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet I.

a A I Q.

ms NURmS PETERS co. wow-urns, msmvgmpu, q. 0.

No. 622,|06. Patented Mar. 28, I899. R. C. BERRY.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application filed Dec. 13, 1897.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets$heet No. 622,|06. Patented Mar. 28, I899. R. C.BERRY.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application filed Dec.18 1&97.

6 Sheets-Shee1 3 (No Model.)

No. 622,|06. Patented Mar. 28, I899. R. C. BERRY.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application filed Dec, 13, 1897.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

No. 622,l06.

Patented Mar. 28, I899. R. 0. BERRY.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PBESSES.

(Application filed Dec. 13, 1897.) (No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 No. 622,l06. Patented Mar. 28, I899; R. G. BERRY.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

(Application filed Dec. 13, 1897.) 7 (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6,

amen 1M1 o WHO WASHINGTON, n. c.

Fig. /5?

IINirnn STATES Fries.

PATENT ROBERT C. BERRY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGN'OR, BY DIRECTAND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE PNEUMATIC CANOELLING MACHINE COM- PANY, OFSAME PLACE.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRlNTlNG-PRESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,106, dated March28, 1899.

Application filed December 13, 1897. Serial No. 661,631. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT C. BERRY, of Indianapolis, county of Marion,and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful FeedingDevice for Printing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

This invention relates to a feeding mechanism for printing, marking, orcanceling machines.

A stamping and canceling machine is herein shown in detail, although thesame construction or at least a construction employing all theprinciples of this machine may be used for printing cards and similarthings,the only change required being in the part of the machine thatdoes the printing.

The object of this invention is to feed to printing, marking, orcanceling machines letters, cards, &c., of similar form andcomparatively stiff by a pneumatic device of a particular constructionand having a particular operation.

Pneumatic feeding devices, broadly speaking, are not new; butmyinvention contains several features relating toa pneumatic feed 0 thatare new and important, especially the construction hereinafterelaiined,whereby the letter or object grasped by the pneumatic'feedingtube is conveyed toward the printing attachment in a positionthat is always parallel or substantiallyparallel with a straightfeeding-line.

Pneumatic feeding devices have heretofore been employed wherein thefeeding tubes moved the object acted upon in a curved line 40 to whichthe said feeding-line was tangential. The effect of such arrangement,especiallyin a machine of the type herein shown, is that the feedingtubeis liable to loose its hold upon the object and especially if feeding astiff material, which, at least after it approaches the feed-roll of theprinting attachment, must move in a straight line.

Another feature of this part of my invention consists in the meansemployed for admitting and shutting off the air at the proper elevationthereof.

time. It is such as to render the machine exceedingly accurate and atthe same time be positive and simple of construction and operation.

Another feature of my invention is the device, substantially as shown,for mechanically feeding the letters, cards, &c., on the table up to thepneumatic feeding-tubes.

Another feature of this invention consists in the means for stacking orpacking the let- 6o ters, cards, &c., after they have been printed,marked, or canceled.

- There are other features byway of improvement in this machine to whichI have not called attention; but they, together'with the matters I havereferred to, will more fully appear from the accompanying drawings andthe description and claims following.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine with partsbroken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section of thetop of the machine on the line A A of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an elevation ofthe righthand end of the machine as it appears in Fig. 1, thedrive-Wheel being broken away and with the removable top part removed.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the gripping device for feeding blocks,the rod on which it is mounted and theshaft which it grasps being insection and the device being closed. Fig. 6 is the same with thegripping device open. Fig. '7 is aside elevation of the block that feedsthe letters, cards, &c.,,to the pneumatic feeding-tubes. Fig. 8 is aplan view of the electrical switch that is operated by the letters orcards as they are being printed, marked, or canceled to bring thefeed-roll to the type-wheel, other parts of the machine being in sectionor broken away. .Fig. 9 is a plan view of the type-wheel. Fig. 10 is aside 0 Fig. 11 is a cross-section on the line B B of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 isa front elevation of the pneumatic tubes that grasp the letters, cards,850., and of the parts that actuate them. Fig. 13 is adetail of the tube5 that supplies the branch tubes. Fig. 14 is a plan View of the hangerfound in the central portion of what is shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 15

is a plan View of the branch pneumatic tubes and the actuatingconstruction, one tube being in position to engage a letter, card, to.Fig. 16 is a detail of the engaging tube shown in Fig. in an advancedposition just before it releases the letter, card, &c. Fig. 17 is a sideelevation of the forked levers to be found in the construction shown inFig. 12. Fig. 18 is a central vertical section thereof. Fig. 19 is asection on the line C O of Fig. 12. Fig. is a central verticallongitudinal section of two oppositely-extendin g branch tubes and themain supply-tube as seen in Fig. 12. Fig. 21 is a central longitudinalvertical section of another section of the pneumatic tubes. Fig. 22 is acentral longitudinal vertical section of the outer end or section of apneumatic tube. Fig. 23 is a plan of the gearing beneath the top of themachine, the framework being broken away.

In detail I provide a table 1 with suitable legs 2, the lower ends ofthe legs being braced by the longitudinal bar 3 and at each end asuitable cross-bar 4. I mount a main driving-shaft 5 in the machine, oneend having bearings in the cross-bar 4 of the frame and the inner end onanother cross-bar 6. Said shaft is driven from any suitable source ofpower by means of the driving-wheel 7. At the inner end of thedriving-shaft 5 a bevel friction-wheel S is secured that engages acorrespondingbut larger bevel friction-wheel 9, which is secured on thevertical shaft 10. Said shaft 10 has a hearing at its lower end securedto the cross-bar 11 of the framework and at its upper end has a bearingmounted in the table 1. The type-wheel 12 is mounted on the upper end ofthis shaft. Another "ertical shaft 13 extends parallel to the shaft 10,having a loose bearing near its upper end in the top of the table andwith a bearing 14 near the middle thereof, which bearing is pivotallymounted in the bracket 15, that is secured to the side of the verticalbar 10, that forms a part of the framework of the machine. On the upperend of this vertical shaft 13 the feedroller 17 is secured, so that itwill register with the type-wheel. Said shaft 13 is driven by the gear18, secured on the shaft 10, that meshes with the gear 19 on the shaft13.

Turning now to the pneumatic feeding mechanism, I secure a fan 20 on theunder side of the table that is driven by the belt 21 over a pulley onthe driving-shaft 5. A tube 22 extends from the exhaust portion of thefan to the working part of the machine and at that end is turned upwardand near its bend is supported by the bracket 23. This tube isstationary. The upturned end of the tube 22 is shown in Figs. 12 and 13.Near its upper end an inlet-port 2& is seen in Fig. 13. \Vhen thusarranged, this portion of the pipe 22 is so turned that said port willface the block that feeds up the letters, cards, &e. The upturned end ofthe pipe 22 extends through the hollow shaft 25 almost to the top of themechanism shown in Fig. 12, so that the port 21 in said pipe 22 will attimes register with the tubes 27, as seen in Figs. 19

and 20. There are four of these tubes 27, radiating at right angles toeach other, as seen in Figs. 15 and 19, being formed in a body 28. (Tobe seen chiefiyin Figs. 15 and 20.) The upper end of the tube 22 shouldfit snugly in the vertical opening or seat in said body 28, and yet sosaid body can readily rotate on said tube. Said body is the upper end ofthe shaft 25, (to be seen in Fig. 12,) which, as has been stated,rotates upon the stationary tube 12. It also rotates in the journal 29,that is supported by a collar on the top of the table. Said tubes 27carry on their outer ends sliding or telescoping tubes 30, as seen inFigs. 12 and 15. The body of: said tubes 30 is horizontal and fitssnugly on the tubes 27; but they have a head 31, through which avertical opening is made and which constitutes a journal for a thirdtube 32, which is at its lower end curved from a vertical to ahorizontal position. Said tubes 30 and are fully shown in Figs. 21 and22. The upper end of the tube 32 is closed, as seen in Fig. 22, and issupported by the split collar33, (to be seen in Fig. 12,) that isclamped on it and holds itin place. Near its upper end is a port (to beseen in Fig. 22) that registers with the tube 30. An integral collar 35on said tube prevents its upward movement. The lower end of said tube isprovided with a rubber washer 36 to contact and engage theletters,cards, &e.

On the lower end of the hollow shaft 25 a gear-wheel 37 is secured thatmeshes with the intermediate gear 38, which in turn engages a gear 39,that is secured on the shaft 10, which drives the type-wheel. There arefour pneumatic tubes 32 in the machine shown that are revolved by themeans just described into position to engage letters, cards, &e. It isseen that this part of the mechanism is driven, together with thetype-wheel and feedroll, by the one vertical shaft 10. The gearing fromthe said wheel 10 for driving or rotating the pneumatic tubes should besuch that the said pneumatic tube will present a letter, card, &c., tothe printing-wheel at the right time to receive the impression from saidwheel at the right place. In other words, in the machine shown thetype-wheel, and therefore the shaft 10, should turn four times exactlywhile the tubular shaft 25 turns once. This will render the movement ofthese parts synchronous. \Vhile the pneumatic tubes rotate, as has beendescribed, it is desirable, for the reason heretofore stated, that theface of said tubes 32 while in contact with the letter, card, &c.,should continue 'and hold the card in a line parallel with the feed-line40 of the machine until it releases the letter, card, &c. Where thematerial is stiff, unless this mode of operation is preservedsubstantially the letter, card, &c., will have to be bent or curved, sothat air will leak in between the letter, card, &c., and the mouth ofthe tube, whereby the letter or card will escape.

To cause themouth of the tube while it engages a letter or card to havethe movement above described, I employ the following means: I secure astationary cam-disk 41 to the stationary journal-box 29. I provide insaid cam-disk a cam-shaped groove or guideway42. (To be seen in Fig.15.)The left-hand half of said guideway is a perfect curve, although that isimmaterial. The third quarter of the guideway is carried graduallyfarther away from the center, as seen in Fig. 15, while the fourthquarter is modified so as to extend in approximately a straight line andmuch nearer the center than the other portions of said guideway. Abovesaid cam-disk I secure to the hollow shaft 25, so it willrotatetherewith, a hanger-43, (to be seen in Figs. 12 and 14,) providedwith pairs of ears 44. Between each pair of said ears I pivot avertically-extending lever 45, forked at its upper end to extend abouthalf-way around the tube 30. Said tube 30 has extending from each side apin 47, that extends into or through a notch or mouth 46 in the upperend of the fork of the forked lever 45, as is to be seen in Figs. 12 and15. A friction-roller 48 is mounted on the lower end of said forkedlever, and said lever is of such length that the said friction-wheelwill extend into and operate in the cam groove or guideway 42. From thisdescription it is clear that when the lower end of said forked lever 45is moved inward or outward while passing through the irregular portionof said guideway the tube 30 will be telescoped or moved somewhat uponthe tube 27. In the upper end of the tubular shaft I secure a pin 49,over which I loosely place the ends of the links 50, as seen in Figs. 12and 15. There is one of these links 50 provided for each branchpneumatic tube. Said links at their outer ends are pivotally connectedwith the split collars 33, which are secured or clamped on the upperends of the outer tubes 32. From this description it is clear that whilethe lower end of the forked lever 45 is passing through the thirdquarter of the camgroove or guideway said lower end will be carriedfarther from the center than before, whereby its upper end will draw orslip the tube toward the center, thus causing the link attached to thecollar 33 and the tube 32, to which the said collar is secured, to moveor swing from the position shown at the lower end of Fig. 15 and infront of Fig. 12 to the position shown at the right-hand side of Figs.12 and 15. Vhile the lowerend of the'forked lever is passing through theregular part of said guideway, the parts are so arranged, as seen inFigs. 12 and 15, that the horizontal portion of the tubev 32 will extendat an angle from the line of the tubes 30 and 27; but by the means andoperation explained when the mouth of the tube 32 is approaching thepile of letters, cards, &c., on the right-hand side, as the machine isshown in Figs. 12 and 15,

the said tube 32 is turned so that its mouth will be in a direct linewith the tubes 30 and 27, as shown. By this means the mouth of said tube32 is parallel with the line of feed 40. This line of feed is indicatedin Figs. 15 and 16 by a simple line; but in the machine, as seen in Fig.2, it is a guide-board against which the letters, cards, &c., are fed upto the pneumatic tube. Hence the mouth of the tube 32 is parallel withthe lettersor cards at the time it is in position to grasp them. Whenthe mouth of the tube is in the position just described, the port 24 inthe stationary pneumatic tube 22, leading from the fans, registers withthe passage-way through the tubes 27, 30, and 32, and therefore enablesthe draft created by the fan to act on the letters, cards, &c. Thisdraft should be sufficiently strong and powerful as to be positive inits operation. After the letters or cards have been grasped by thesuction through the pneumatic tube 32 the rotation thereof continues.From that time it is desired to move said letters in a line parallelwith the line of feed to avoid the letters or cards being bent or curvedwhen they engage with the feed-roll or type-Wheel, as has beenexplained. Therefore the guideway 42 is formed, as shown in the fourthquarter of it, so that while the lower end of the forked lever begins topass through such fourth quarter it is moved inward and its top outward,thus moving the tube 32 outward somewhat, and therefore the linkgradually turns the collar 33 and tube 32, to which it is secured. Thisgradual turning continues as long as the lower end of said forked rod ismoved farther inward by the guideway. In this manner the said pneumatictube that is holding the letter 'or card moves the tube from theposition shown at the right hand in Fig. 15 to the position shown inFig.- 1.6, always keeping the mouth of the tube parallel with the lineof feed. Nhen the said part has reached the type-wheel have received theletter or card,

IIO

and at the same time the pneumatic branch tubes have been rotated so farthat the opening in the tubes 37, 30, and 32 ceases to register with theport 24 in the stationary pneumatic tube, so that the exhaust is cut offand the letter, card, &c. that are being fed up to the said tubes. 'Itis observed that the split collar 33 can be loosened and adjusted on theupper end of the tube 32, so as to regulate and govern the position ofthe said tube 32 in the various parts of its operation. It is clear thatonly one letter or card would be grasped by the pneumatic tube at onetime, as the exhaust would not act through a card or letter. To enablethe mouth of the tube 32 to reach the letter and act freely, it extendsthrough the slot in the feeding-board 40.

Turning now to the means for feeding the letters, cards, &c., up to thepneumatic tubes that have been described, I call attention to a longslot 51 in the table, as seen in Fig. 2. Beneath said slot there is seena threaded shaft'52. It is to be seen also in Fig. 1, although partlybroken away there. The outer end of said shaft is to be seen in Fig. 4.As there shown, it is driven by the belt 53, that runs over the idlers5%, that in turn are driven by the pulley 55 on the spindle 56, as seenin Fig. 1. Said spindle is driven by the pulley 57, belt 58, and pulley59, that is on the main driving-shaft 5. Riding on the table over saidslot 51 is a feed-block (50. (To be seen in Figs. 2 and 7.) It has ahorizontal portion and at its forward end an upright portion grasp andmesh with the threaded shaft 52.

From this it is clear that as said shaft is rotated through the grippingdevice the feedblock will be moved. The said shaft 52 should bethreaded, so as to move the block that has just been described forwardtoward the pneumatic tubes. A coilspring 63 is provided between thepivot-ed arms of the gripping device to hold the gripping device secureon the said shaft 52. It is seen that it can be readily released fromsaid shaft, so as to remove it backward or otherwise placed or adjustedin case the letters, cards, &c., have been fed out. The threads of theshaft are omitted at the end in order to stop the forward movement ofthe feed-block. In order to render said feed-block sensitive and adaptedtothe varying thicknesses of the letters, cards, &c., I provide aspring-pushed face (ii, that is held and pushed by the pair of springs65. The block and the face 64: have guide-strips 66 on the under side ofsuch width as to freely move through the slot 51.

To prevent the feed-roll and type-wheel from engaging each other whilethere is anything between them wherein the type-wheel would be injured,I provide the following device: As seen in Figs. '1 and 2, a spring 67tends to withdraw the feed-roll from the typewheel, and unless it iscounteracted will continue to hold them apart. It is therefore desirableto counteract the action of said spring while the letters, cards, &c.,are passing between the feed-roll and type-wheel in order that they mayperform their function. To that end I employ the electrical device to beseen in Figs. 1 and 8. In Fig. 1 a contact piece or armature 68 issecured on the lower end of the vertical shaft 13, on whose upper endthe said feed-roll is secured. As has been explained, said shaft 13 .iscentrally pivoted, so that it rocks. \Vhen the upper end is turned tothe right by the spring 67, thus separating the roll from thetype-wheel, the lower end is moved to the left. I employ a magnet 69,whose core 70 is so placed as to attract the armature GS and move thelower end of the vertical shaft 13 to the right whenever the electricalcircuit is closed. In such case it is clear that the feed-roll will bein working contact with the type-wheel, 01' rather with the letter orcard that is between them. A wire 71 extends from the magnet to asuitable battery. A wire 72 extends from the magnet to the bracket 7 3,secured on the middle partition 74 of the table, as is to be seen inFig. 2. A lever 75 is centrally pivoted in the end of said bracket, asis to be seen in Fig. 8. One end of said lever has a ball or similararrangement on it that is held normally in contact with thefeeding-board 40 by means of the spring 76, which tends to pull theother end of said lever 75 to the left, as seen in Fig. 8. On the end ofsaid lever 75 I secure a contact-piece 77 adjacent to .the stationarycontact-arm 78, secured to the table 1. From said contact-arm 7 S thewire 79 runs to the ground or terminal of an electric battery or othersource of electric power. The contact-point between the ball on thelever 75 and the feeding-board to is directly over the contact-point ofthe roll and typewheel, so that when the letter or card is between saidfeed-roll and type-wheel it separates the lever 75 from the feed-board40, and such movement of the lever 75 causes a 0011- tact between theparts 77 and 78, thus closing the circuit, which causes the magnet (50to attract and move the lower end of the vertical shaft to the right,thus moving the feed-roll 17 to the left against the letter or card thatis between it and the type-wheel. It is obvious that the quick action ofthe electricity will bring about the result here desired as soon as theletter or card begins to pass between the feed-roll and type-wheel. Asthe letters,cards, &c., are printed,marked, or canceled they moverearward along the feed-board 40 until their ends engage the adjustableguide-board 80. At the beginning of the operation the sliding block 81(to be seen in Fig. 2) is moved up to the left as far as possible. Theletter or card, therefore, is inclosed when it passes from theprinting-wheel between the partitions 4:0 and SO and the block 81. Ablast is then applied to said letter or card to blow it against the faceof the block 81 and hold it there until the next letter or card comesout, and it is blown against the former so that they are in successionblown into a row against the block 81 with their ends abutting againstthe partition 80. It is therefore necessary that the said block 81recede from its first position as rapidly as the letters, cards, &e.,are printed, stamped, or canceled. Said block 81 is formed substantiallylike the feeding-block (30 andis held and moved by the gripping deviceextending through the slot similar to and parallel with the slot 51. Likcwise the gripping device engages a threaded shaft 82, that is parallelwith the threaded shaft 52, but the threads run in the oppositedirection. Said shaft 82 is driven by the belt 53, as is seen in Fig. 4.Said block 81 therefore travels to the right as rapidly as the feedblock(50 travels to the left. The blast to pack said letters, cards, &e.,after being printed, marked, or canceled comes from the fan 20 throughthe blast-pipe 83, that runs along under the table, as is seen in Fig.1, and is extended through the feed-board and faces the block 81. Saidblast does not operate to blow the letter or card off the table, becausethe other letters and cards just behind the one upon which the blastacts prevent it.

The printing-wheel is formed substantially as shown in Figs. 9, 10, and11. A recess is made, as indicated in Fig. 11, somewhat tapering, asthere shown. First a plate or partition is placed in said recess. Uponit the type-block 85 is placed. At each end of said type-block thetapering wedges 86 are inserted. Upon said type-block another partition87 is placed, followed by the type 88 and the wedges at each end, andupon .the whole a plate 90 is placed and securely held down by thescrews 91, provided with lips that overlap the ends of the plate 90. Bythis means the parts may be pressed and held in place.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A printing, marking or canceling machine including a table on whichthe letters, &c., maybe fed up in a pack on their edges, a sectionaltube horizontallyrotatable upon the table into and out of position tograsp the let ters singly as they are fed up to it, and means for so.holding the suction end of said tube that it will move in substantiallya straight line while it grasps the letter.

2. A feeding device for printing, marking or cancelin g machinesincluding a rotary head, a pneumatic tube carried thereon that consistsof telescoping sections, a lever mounted on the rotary head to engage atone end one of said sections, and a guideway in which the other end ofthe lever extends, the guideway being so formed as to operate said leverand thereby change the length of the pneumatic tube as desired.

8. A feeding device for printing, marking or cancelingmachinesincludingarotaryhead, a pneumatic tube carried thereon thatrotates like an arm about a center into and out of position to grasp theobjects being treated, said tube being in telescoping sections a levermounted on the rotary head so as to rotate with the tube and at one endengage one section thereof, and a stationary guidewayin which the otherend of said lever moves, such guideway being so formed as to operatesaid lever, thereby change the length of the pneumatic tube in eachoperation.

4. A feeding device for printing, canceling or marking machinesincluding a series of pneumatic tubes that rotate about a common centerand consists of telescoping sections, a hanger mounted so as to rotatewith said tubes, levers mounted in said-hanger, one for each tube and atone end engaging one section thereof, and a stationary guideway in whichthe other end of the levers move, such guideways being so formed as tooperate saidlevers and thereby change the length of said tubessuccessively.

5. A feeding device for printing, marking or canceling machinesincluding a stationary exhaust-tube with a port therein, a hollow shaftsurrounding said exhaust-tube with a registering port in it, a tubeextending from a port in said hollow shaft, such tube being intelescoping sections, a hanger secured to said hollow shaft, a leverpivoted in said hanger with one end engaging a telescoping section ofthe pneumatic tube, a stationary guideway secured below said hanger andinto which the other end of said lever extends, said guideway being soformed as to operate said lever, and means for rotating the'hollow shaftand thereby the pneumatic tube and hanger.

6. A feeding device for printing, marking or canceling machinesincludinga pneumatic tube in sections, the end' sections rotatably mounted in thehead of an adjacent section at right angles thereto and with a portregistering with the passage-way through the other sections, and meansfor so turning the end section that the mouth of the tube will beparallel with the feed-line of the machine while conveying a letter,card, 850.

7. A feeding device for printing, marking or canceling machinesincluding a pneumatic tube comprising the sections 27, 30 and 32, formedand combined substantially as shown, and means for so turning thesection 32 that its mouth will be parallel with the fced-line of themachine while it is conveying a letter, card, 850. g

8. A feeding device for printing, marking or canceling machinesincluding a movable sectional pneumatic tube, two of said sectionstelescoping and the outer section rotatably mounted in the adjacentsection at right angles thereto, a hanger that moves with the pneumatictube, a lever mounted in said hanger with its upper end engaging atelescoping section of said tube, a guideway into which the other end ofsaid lever extends, such guideway being so formed as to operate saidlever and thereby change the length of the pneumatic tube, and a linkextending from the axis of movement of said tube and pivotally securedat its other end to the outer tube-section away from its center wherebywhen the telescoping portion of the tube is moved the said link willhold one side of said outer tube-section and cause it to be turned,substantially as shown,

9. A'feeding device for printing, marking and canceling machinesincluding a stationary pneumatic tube provided with a suitable port, ahollow shaft loosely mounted thereon IIO suitable collar to hold it inplace, a hanger secured to said hollow shaft, levers pivotally mountedin said hanger with one end engaging the telescoping sections of thetube, a stationary cam-disk containing a guideway therein through whichthe other end of said levers moves, said guideway being so formed as tooperate said lever at times and thereby change the length of thepneumatic tubes, means for rotating the hollow shaft, a pin centrallylocated at the center of 'rotation of the said tubes, and linksextending from said pin and at their outer ends pivotallysecured to thecollars on the outer sections of the tubes, whereby when the tubes arerotated about the center and a telescoping section moves in or out itsadjacent outer section will turn somewhat.

10. A printing, marking or canceling machine including a type-wheel, anoscillating shaft, a feed-roll mounted on one end thereof adjaceutto thetype-wheel, a spring that tends to withdraw the feed-roll from thetypewheel, a magnet so placed adjacent to the other end of said shaftthat it will tend to move said feed-roll toward said type-wheel, aguideboard to guide letters, cards, &c., between the feed-roll andtype-wheel, a suitable electric circuitfor said magnet, and a switchconsisting of a suitable arm, a spring-controlled switch-levcr,one endof which is adapted to engage a contact-arm and close the circuit andthe other end to engage the guide-board substantially over thecontact-point between the feed-roll and type-wheel, the switch being soarranged that when said lever'contacts with the guide-board the circuitwill be opened and when a letter, card, &c., passes between them thecircuit will be broken.

11. A feeding device for printing, marking or canceling machines,including a suitable table on one side of which the letters, cards, &c.,are fed up, a pneumatic-tube device on one side of the printingattachment for feeding the letters, cards, &c., laterally to it, a fan,a tube extending from the pneumatictube attachment to the exhaustportion of the fan, and a blast-tube extending from the dischargeportion of the fan to the other side of the printing attachment forremoving the letters, cards, &c.,afterbeing printed, and packing thesame.

12. A feeding device for printing, marking or canceling machines,including a table, a pair of slots in said table, one 011 the feedingside and the other on the receiving side thereof, a shaft under andparallel with eachslot, the shafts being oppositel threaded, afeeding-block operating in each slot, a connection between said blocksand the threaded shafts, and means for driving said threaded shafts inunison.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of December,1897.

ROBERT C. BERRY.

Witnesses:

R. D. H WKINS, ZULA GREEN.

